Utopia Skala / Alto speakers anyone hear them both

it will be diferent on Nova EM believe me :-)

I know I am reviving an old thread but the original question was never answered and I finally had the chance to compare the Scala head to head with the Alto the other day.

What Focal has done with the Scala is pretty impressive and something I am still having a hard time comprehending given what I thought were the similarities between the designs of the Alto and the Scala. While the Alto remains a great speaker, the Scala improves upon it in every way top to bottom and most impressively, makes the Alto seem slightly veiled in comparison (which is pretty shocking considering how veiled most other speakers sound in comparison to the Alto ime).

Were the prices the same, it would be the Scala hands down, but given the marked price differentials between the Alto on the used market and the Scala new, it's a decision that will be personal to each buyer.

How about Scala vs Maestro?

Scala- more bright, briliant tonality hights with a little bit sibilanse, litle bit more agressive in mids. Shy in midbass.

Maestro-punchy,dynamyc and efortless at higher levels. transparent and more open in midrange, good soundstage and overal coherence. Inspite mids are more pronounced they are not agressive or forward but very smooth all the way.

From a very short comparison listening session, the things that stood out between the Maestro and the Scala are: (i) punchier, tauter bass of the Maestro, (ii) more transparent midrange of the Maestro and (iii) removal of the last semblance of warmth by the Maestro.

If you have the space, the Maestro is clearly the superior speaker to the Scala; unfortunately, I don't currently have the space or I would probably own the Maestro.